Indian Penal Code, 1860
88 [153A. Promoting enmity between
different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence,
language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony
(1) Whoever-
(a) by words, either
spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise,
promotes or attempts to promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth,
residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever,
disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different
religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, or
(b) commits any act
which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious,
racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, and which
disturbs or is likely to disturb the public tranquility, 89[or]
89 [(c) organizes any exercise, movement, drill or other
similar activity intending that the participants in such activity shall use or
be trained to use criminal force or violence or knowing it to be likely that
the participants in such activity will use or be trained to use criminal force
or violence, or participates in such activity intending to use or be trained to
use criminal force or violence or knowing it to be likely that the participants
in such activity will use or be trained to use criminal force or violence,
against any religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community
and such activity for any reason whatsoever causes or is likely to cause fear
or alarm or a feeling of insecurity amongst members of such religious, racial,
language or regional group or caste or community,]
shall be punished with
imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
Offence committed in
place of worship, etc- (2) Whoever commits an offence specified in
sub-section (1) in any place of worship or in any assembly engaged in the
performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies, shall be punished
with imprisonment which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to
fine.]